Let’s say you’re on the job hunt. Perhaps you’re a recent college graduate or transitioning from another line of work, and you’re figuring out what you want to do next. The thought can be paralyzing. What’s worse, everyone you talk to is seemingly a career advice expert, eagerly sharing unsolicited advice and tips to help you to get that highly coveted job. However, if you find the noise reaching unbearable levels, I recommend turning inward and asking yourself a simple question: What am I looking to obtain by getting this job?

Your answer(s) to this question may reveal a lot. Do you need a job strictly to pay the bills? Are you seeking to build out a career and this job is just the first step in that process? Perhaps the main pressure is from well-meaning, though overbearing, relatives. While your personal response to this question will vary, the “best” answers, in my view, will revolve around your personal goals. Ultimately, don’t look for a job in an effort to please someone else—do it for yourself.